What Is the Parallel Faction of the Nepali Congress Demanding Amidst Party Disputes?

April 28, Kathmandu – Although the authority dispute within the Nepali Congress (NC) has been settled by the Supreme Court, the faction outside the established leadership continues parallel activities. Despite the Supreme Court dismissing the writ challenging the authority of the leadership elected by the special general convention, the outgoing acting president Purusottam Khadka remains active with parallel initiatives. On April 17, the Supreme Court dismissed writs related to authority filed by former president Sher Bahadur Deuba and Khadka. Following this dismissal, the central committee led by Gagan Thapa, chosen through the special general convention, was declared legitimate.

Prior to this, the Election Commission had recognized the special general convention held at the end of Poush (mid-January) as lawful. On January 16, the Commission decided to legally update the central committee’s details, affirming the convention’s conformity with laws and party rules. After the Commission’s decision, the Deuba group’s claim to deny the convention’s legitimacy was automatically void. Even after the commission’s endorsement, the Deuba-Khadka faction continued to challenge the authority in the Supreme Court, which ultimately dismissed their writs.

Three months after the authority-related case dismissal, on April 18, acting president Khadka met with senior leaders at his residence in Golfutar. Following consultations, he convened a meeting of office bearers and central members elected at the 14th general convention on April 19. After the meeting’s conclusions, Khadka called another gathering for April 21.

This two-day meeting at Hotel Smart in Dhumbarahi invited office bearers, central members, district presidents, and regional chairs from the valley who were elected in the 14th general convention. The gathering reportedly includes Khadka himself, 62 central members elected in the 14th convention, four provincial presidents and vice presidents, 34 district presidents, 30 regional presidents, 40 former district presidents, current district members, and general committee members. According to attendees, 23 leaders expressed their views on April 21.

Acting president Khadka announced another meeting scheduled for 11 a.m. on April 22, information confirmed by Kanchanpur Congress president Padam Bogati. Former Defense Minister Bhimsen Das Pradhan stated that participants complained that President Thapa had not yet taken initiatives to maintain party unity despite the leadership’s responsibility.

Leaders participating in the meeting expressed concern that while the party’s unity requires significant contribution from the president, no concrete steps have been undertaken so far. Upon leaving the venue, Pradhan remarked that President Thapa should clarify whether he intends to be a leader for only one faction or represent the entire Congress.

“Currently, the rightful president is Gagan Thapa. The question remains whether the president represents all or just one faction,” he said. Leader Ram Hari Khatiwada emphasized that it is the president’s responsibility to strengthen the party. Although the Supreme Court resolved the internal dispute, Khatiwada stated that discussions on how to conduct the 15th general convention with greater unity are still pending.

“Before the election on February 3, there was a debate about holding the special general convention or not. The Supreme Court has made a decision. Now, discussions are underway on how to hold the 15th general convention with broader unity,” Khatiwada explained. “There is consensus that the president should take the initiative to strengthen the party.”

While the extra-establishment leadership insists on the president’s role in uniting the party, President Thapa met Khadka at his residence on April 19. Sources indicate that Thapa has taken initiatives to strengthen the party following the resolution of the dispute by the judiciary. Nevertheless, Khadka has continued parallel activities.

This raises questions as to why Khadka still faces difficulties returning to the party despite the court’s verdict resolving the dispute. When asked for comment, Khadka declined to speak. However, his close associate, leader Min Bishwakarma, stated that although the Supreme Court and Election Commission have resolved the legal and constitutional disputes, political and practical differences remain, which is why parallel activities persist.

“The court and commission settled legal and constitutional questions, but political and practical disputes persist, hence the need for party unity,” Bishwakarma said. “Discussions are ongoing regarding how to make the 15th general convention a shared convention for unity.”

The outgoing propaganda department head Bishwakarma also indicated that until leaders from his faction receive roles in Thapa’s central committee, the parallel activities will continue.

“At a time when party work requires going to Sanepa, some leaders here lack roles in the central committee,” he said. “Without such a setup, party unity cannot be considered achieved.”

Bishwakarma claimed that the central committee elected through the special general convention has operated unilaterally, leading many leaders elected in the 14th convention to drift away from the party’s mainstream.

“The 14th convention elected committee issued a schedule for the 15th convention, but an election intervened,” he said. “The decision not to hold the convention before the election was made in April, but since the special convention happened, the party ran unilaterally, causing many colleagues to move away from the mainstream.”

Meanwhile, outgoing central member Kundan Raj Kafle refuted claims that leaders from other factions have not returned to party work.

“We are involved in party activities. Wherever our leaders and activists are needed, we are present. Even this meeting is party work,” he stated.

The former minister of Bagmati Province Kafle explained that the meeting was convened to discuss how to strengthen party unity, transform the party into a powerful opposition from a weak one, hold the government accountable, and work in the people’s interest.